Barbara Jill Bunker Johnson Wood, passed away September 3, 2018 in Mesquite Nevada, waging a personal battle against Parkinson's Disease to the end. Born April 30, 1932 to Ruth Collier Robison and Owen Woodruff Bunker in Fillmore Utah, her mother tragically died when Jill was just 18 months old. Jill learned that her love of beautiful sunsets was a memory of times spent with her mother Ruth during that short time they shared on earth. Jill was very close to her extended family, with many aunts, uncles and cousins stepping in to nurture her and her three brothers, Bill, Keith and Dick. Owen married Merodean Huntsman in 1935 and youngest brother Stephen later joined the busy brood.
From Fillmore the Bunker family moved to East Millcreek where Jill attended Granite High School. At age 15, she met and dated upper classman, William Stanley Johnson and on a summer trip to Fillmore she met J. Ralph Wood, and dated him too. She was a popular young lady who attended every prom and socialized extensively.
After high school, Jill entered Holy Cross Hospital School of Nursing. When Stan returned from a church mission they courted and when he was called up in the Korean conflict, they received special permission from school administrators to marry before he had to report to boot camp. They married in June 1953 in the Salt Lake Temple and were pleased when he received a medical deferment and was not drafted after all. Jill did nursing shift work for many years as she raised her three children, Kathleen, Eric and Clark. During those years she enjoyed serving as the drama director and working with the children in the Junior Sunday School.
Jill was ambitious and hardworking. While dropping Clark off at daycare she decided it was time for a change and started the Gingerbread House Preschool, the first of many entrepreneurial adventures. After her Bountiful home was burglarized, she started another business to replace her stolen turquoise jewelry. From there, Tommy Knockers was created, a Park City fixture for several decades.
Family was everything to Jill but friends were family too! Jill nurtured relationships and was the keeper of family memories, artifacts and traditions. Her Park City ski home provided years of fun for friends and family. Family Cookie Day was an annual event that spanned six decades and four generations. Extended family vacations were organized bringing cousins together at Lava Hot Springs, Colorado, California, Montana and elsewhere.
In 2005, after Stan passed away, Jill reconnected with Ralph Wood, an old Fillmore boyfriend, who was also mourning the recent death of his spouse. In 2006 they were married by then Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. at the Governor's Mansion. Jill and Ralph traveled, entertained, golfed, and enjoyed their time together in Mesquite Nevada and Dillon Montana with their expanded circles of family and friends. Ralph's 85th Birthday and Golf Extravaganza in Dillon was a recent example of Jill's talent for hosting memorable events.
When Jill was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2008, she read and researched extensively, vowing to know the enemy and educate her family and friends! Activities were limited but she fought a good fight for ten years. In the end though, complications overwhelmed her system and she succumbed to the dreaded disease.
Jill is survived by her husband Ralph; children, Kathleen (Larry) Jensen, Eric (Christy) Johnson, Clark (Christie) Johnson, Heather (Toby) Levitt, Randy (Jill) Wood; 17 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; brother Stephen (Sherri) Bunker; many dear sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Bill, Keith and Dick Bunker.
The family wishes to thank Roberta and Nellie for their compassionate caregiving and Dr. Alfaro for his knowledge and care of Parkinson's patients, as well as the doctors and nurses from Highland Manor and Mesa View Home and Hospice. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Parkinson's Research or the Huntsman Cancer Center would be appreciated.
A celebration of her life will be held September 11, 2018 at 10:00am at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 Dimple Dell Road (10600 South) Sandy, UT 84092. Interment will be at Park City Cemetery, overlooking the ski slopes Jill dearly loved.
